John Edgar Galejs (1927-2015)
GALEJS, STIENS, LINDE, GARRETT, MCAFEE
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 2/10/2015 at 17:39:20
Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.
John Galejs, 87, formerly of Ames, passed away January 2, 2015 at Bethany Manor in Story City. Memorial services will be planned for a later date.
John Edgar Galejs was born July 18, 1927 to Karlis and Zelma (Stiens) Galejs in Latvia. He was just 12 when World War II began, and his formative teenage years were spent separated from his parents, living through both Soviet and Nazi occupation, getting conscripted into the military at age 16, and finally ending up in a displaced persons camp in Germany where he knew no one at the end of the war. He was able to graduate high school in the camp, and ultimately was sponsored by the Lutheran Church to come to the United States in 1949.
He worked the first year in America as a farm hand in exchange for room and board, then paid his way through school at the University of Minnesota while working in a factory at night. He ultimately earned master’s degrees in library science and political science, and then came to Ames to accept employment at the University.
John was married from 1956-1986 to Irma Galejs, with whom he raised three children. John worked in the library system at Iowa State University, and retired as Associate Dean of Libraries. He was a member of the American Latvian Association, the American Library Association, the Fraternity Lettonia and the Iowa Library Association. John enjoyed reading books, collecting stamps and working in the garden. He loved dogs.
He married the love of his life, Benita Linde on September 28, 2007 and spent the rest of his years happily with her.
John is survived by his wife, Benita Linde, of Story City; his three children, Inta (Tony) Garrett, of Des Moines, Anda (Paul) McAfee, of Tempe, Arizona and Laris (Diana) Galejs, of Brighton, Michigan; and three grandchildren, Paul McAfee, Ingrid Galejs and Gus Galejs.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Karlis Galejs.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Iowa Latvian Lutheran Church, the American Latvian Association or the Iowa Latvian Society.
http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen